WORCESTER — Police arrested seven men accused of operating a "large level heroin distribution" in Worcester with drugs transported from New York City.

"You have from the top down to the lowest echelon arrested all together; here today after a year-long investigation," said Assistant Worcester District Attorney Roberta O'Brien during the arraignment of the seven co-defendants.

The investigation that began in 2013 resulted in three separate search warrants that were carried out on Saturday, March 8. While serving those warrants, police seized over 581 grams of heroin and roughly $80,000 in cash from the three locations, according to O'Brien. The resulting arrests include men accused of transporting the heroin from New York City and Gabriel Texidor-Ramos (also known as Julio Perez), 28, of 99 Chester St. Apt. 2 in Fitchburg who O'Brien said was in charge of a group distributing the heroin in Worcester.

"They believe he was in charge of distribution," said O'Brien of Texidor-Ramos who was given a combined $1 million cash bail on multiple charges at his arraignment Monday. "This has been going on for over a year; this investigation."

Police used wire taps, video surveillance and hand-to-hand buys by undercover detectives throughout 2013 before serving the search warrants, she said.

"The police noticed a large amount of heroin being distributed," O'Brien said of the reason the investigation began.

The first two search warrants were carried out in Worcester. The first search on West Boylston Street lead to the arrest of Jeremiah Coffey, Jr., 39, of 8 Lynwood Ave. in Oxford. Coffey had allegedly sold heroin to an undercover Worcester detective numerous times, O'Brien said, and was found to be in possession of 51 grams of heroin and over $4,600 in cash. Coffey was arrested along with Louis Garcia-Tobar, 32, of 33 May St. Apt. 1R.

"Through the wire tap and video surveillance, they believe he was the individual who re-ups the individuals. He bring the drugs from the main location to them and then they distribute them in the city," said O'Brien of Garcia-Tobar.

Police then used Coffey's phone to text Jonathan Kiesiner, 35, of 13 Oak Circle in Millbury to set up a meeting, said O'Brien. Kiesiner then went to the Shaws on Gold Star Boulevard where he was arrested by police with 47 baggies of heroin on him.

"The drugs he has on him are packaged in the same manner as the items that were found at that West Boylston Street address," said O'Brien.

Police also served a warrant at 17 Shale St. Apt. 2 which served as the group's stash house, she said. They broke down the door of the apartment and saw Texidor-Ramos running from police towards a back door along with Ramon Martinez-Perez, 20, of 16 East 208th St. Apt. 3c in Bronx, NY. The pair allegedly dropped a bag containing 309 grams of heroin as they fled from the police, said O'Brien.

"They observed defendant Ramos holding a large plastic bag which he attempted to pass off to defendant Perez (Texidor-Ramos) as they fled to the back door. That bag fell to the floor," said O'Brien. "That large bag that was dropped was found to contain 309 grams of heroin."

At the apartment, police secured Texidor-Ramos and Martinez-Perez along with Joel Ventura-Paulino, 28, of 644 149th St. Apt. 14e in Bronx, NY and Elby Jose Sanchez, 19, of 181 554th St. Apt. 3E in Manhattan, NY. During a search of the apartment, police found an additional 221 grams of heroin, $7,500 in cash and various drug paraphernalia including scales.

"Through their investigation, they believe that defendant Ramon Martinez-Perez is the person who maintains, and is in charge of what they call a stash house," said O'Brien.

Police allege that Sanchez and Ventura-Paulino were transporting the heroin to Worcester from New York City, she said. There is wire-tap evidence of Texidor-Ramos calling a number in New York and it being arranged that these two people bring drugs to the city, said O'Brien.

During the search of a vehicle that had been operated by Texidor-Ramos, police reportedly found an additional $7,000 in cash, she said. A search warrant carried out at his Chester Street home in Fitchburg resulted in police locating a 9 mm Glock handgun, two magazines, 9mm ammunition, $2,000 in cash, 46 rounds of .308 caliber ammunition and paperwork and keys to Bank of America safe deposit box, said O'Brien. Police found nearly $50,000 in the safe deposit box after obtaining a search warrant, she said.

All seven defendants were arraigned in Worcester court Monday and all given April 10 as their next day in court. Texidor-Ramos, Martinez-Perez, Ventura-Paulino and Sanchez are all citizens of the Dominican Republic.

Texidor-Ramos was held on a combined $1 million cash bail on a charges of resisting arrest, arrestee furnishing a false name, trafficking in more than 200 grams of heroin, conspiracy to violate controlled substances laws and a fugitive from justice warrant.

Kiesner was held on $10,000 cash bail on charges of class A possession with intent to distribute, distribution of a class A substance and conspiracy to violate controlled substance laws.

Coffey was held on $20,000 cash bail on charges of class A possession with the intent to distribute, 16 counts of distribution of a class A substance, trafficking in heroin 28-99 grams and conspiracy to violate controlled substance laws.

Garcia-Tobar was held on $30,000 cash bail on charges of distribution of a class A substance, trafficking in heroin 28-99 grams and conspiracy to violate controlled substance laws.

Sanchez was held on $25,000 cash bail on charges of trafficking in greater than 200 grams of heroin and conspiracy to violate controlled substance laws.

Ventura-Paulino was held on $35,000 cash bail on charges of trafficking in greater than 200 grams of heroin and conspiracy to violate controlled substance laws.

Martinez-Perez was held on $30,000 cash bail on charges of trafficking in greater than 200 grams of heroin and conspiracy to violate controlled substance laws.